Piracy is a word that conjures up an array of meanings by the rise of the sometimes glamorized and romanticized image in films, television and literature. It captures the imagination while glossing over the lesser-known and gruesome aspects of life as a pirate at sea throughout history. The reality of piracy is less of gallivanting buccaneers who enjoyed the lawless life but one of trade, violence and uncertainty. Amy Chandler explains.
18th century Spanish corsair Amaro Pargo.
The familiar but historically inaccurate image of a pirate is one of eye-patch-wearing and rum-drinking men who sailed the seas looking for treasures. Pirates are described by one historian as “very real, very dangerous, and very much loathed as common criminals” and were unquestionably “feared, hated, disgraced and deserving of their capital punishment” throughout the seventeenth century. (1) The Golden Age of Piracy lasted between the 1650s to around the 1720s, but acts of piracy date back centuries. By the nineteenth century, pirates were rare, and first-hand verifiable accounts rarer still. Literary fiction used first-hand accounts, as inspiration for creating the myths of pirates that contemporary society is aware of today. This article will explore the rise of piracy and their motivations to the lifestyle, Privateers, and the decline of pirates and illegal activities at sea.
The rise and popularity of Piracy
The term pirate covers a broad idea of piracy at sea throughout history including Privateers, Buccaneers and Corsairs. Privateers were individuals who seized enemy ships legally, Corsairs were Privateers who worked specifically in the Mediterranean Sea with or against the Ottoman Empire until the early nineteenth century, and Buccaneers operated in the Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Central America.
Historically, Piracy has always existed in one way or another and became more apparent during the seventeenth century with the rise of colonization. Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World of the Americas encouraged colonization and conflicts throughout Europe to claim these lands. The New World was rich in tobacco, pearls and gold, which provided a way for men to obtain wealth quickly. In a world where money equalled success and power, the opportunity to steal and plunder to gain wealth instead of living in poverty was attractive. By the 1630s, many European powers were operating in this area and the West Indies as naval exploration increased causing an increase in ships laden with wealth was a prime target for Buccaneers.
Piracy thrived on opportunity, and the constant warfare and conflicts between European powers in the New World allowed pirates to prey on weaker ships and loot. For many years “piracy […was] undiscouraged in European waters” and throughout the West Indies, this behaviour “flourished openly” with respect. (2) Many islands were geographically close and offered shelter, resources, water and provisions between voyages. Many centuries before the seventeenth century, the culture of piracy was fostered and encouraged as an “easy method of individual enrichment, partly as an instrument or practical politics”. (2) In a world where disease was strife, poverty high, and inherited wealth dominated the class system; the life of piracy appeared to have a lucrative and attractive livelihood for many.
The True travels, adventures and observations of Captain John Smith documented the allure of piracy for men instead of staying loyal to the English crown. Smith states that:
“Some because they became sleighted of those for whom they had got much wealth; […] they could not get their due; […] had lived bravely, would not abase themselves to poverty; some vainly, only to get a name; others for revenge […] as they found themselves more and more oppressed, their passions increasing with discontentment, made them turn pirates”. (4)
Smith’s observations emphasized that life in the navy and working within the legal perimeters of sailing was not always as lucrative or rewarding for those with no status or wealth. The Captain or crewmembers who held a position of power were rewarded for their service, while many lower-status crewmembers were unrewarded. Many of the lower classes of society had a life of misery, hunger and manual labour, so the life of a pirate with the same living conditions but a chance of wealth was attractive.
Life of a Pirate
The notoriety of dangerous and blood-thirsty pirates was a sensational story that encapsulated people’s imagination. There was an appeal of fame and notoriety that was not given when aboard a Privateer’s ship. Piracy offered a life that was unhindered by the same rules and hierarchy of the navy or merchant ships. Pirates were diplomatic as the crew and captain decided together where they travelled to and any stolen loot from ships were divided amongst the crew equally. This diplomatic structure gave the crew a sense of responsibility and equality that was not given in the same way through legal sailing. These men were rewarded for their contribution to the crew and captain and unlike those who served for the crown were rewarded for their efforts. Furthermore, the flag of a skull and cross-bones commonly associated with piracy, known as the Jolly Roger, was only one of many designs throughout history. Flags were coloured in blood red, black and white and aimed to strike fear in their enemies. Notably, Edward Teach (Blackbeard) used a flag with a skeleton piercing a heart with a spear.
Pirate crews also elected their captain and all men and women on board treated equal with a signing of a declaration of agreement. The life of civil landed society involved complicated politics and hierarchies and appeared as more oppressive and restrictive than the life of a pirate. This life also offered freedom, adventure and choice to decide how an individual wanted to live. Pirates also operated outside governing laws and the wealth and riches they collected were all theirs with no taxes or a percentage to be paid to the government. Although the lawless life of adventure and wealth is appealing, life was still difficult and the promise of riches were balanced with long periods of time at sea with little food, drink or medical supplies and harsh punishments for misbehaviour or desertion. When capturing a ship and plundering their loot, many pirate ships captured sailors with medical knowledge and skills that the ship could use to their advantage.
The ascension of King James I in 1603, after Queen Elizabeth I’s death, was a contributing factor to the appeal of piracy for many men as his desire for peace triggered a series of proclamations. The desire for peace with all nations meant the English crown had no use for a large navy and some Privateers became pirates. For many decades the Letters of Marque was a “commission authorising privately owned ships” (Privateers) to capture enemy merchant vessels such as the Spanish. (3) Enforced by the High Court of Admiralty, a Letter of Marque oversaw the management and sale of captured ships. Privateers were in operation as early as 1293 and were continually commissioned in times of warfare and eventually abolished in 1856. (3) The role of Privateers was seen as honourable and heroic, protecting England from the dangerous pirates. Individuals captured without a Letter of Marque were recognised as thieves or vagabonds and arrested. The possession of the Letter of Marque legalised the same acts that pirates were arrested and executed for, blurring the line between these professions. Notable Privateers included Sir France Drake, who seized Spanish ships under the authority of Queen Elizabeth I.
The difference between Pirates and Privateers is a theoretical distinction based on those who acted outside of the law or those who acted under legal authority given by the crown, however some Privateers did become Pirates. In most cases English Privateers targeted non-English vessels as “fair prey” and even in times of political unease between European powers the actions of Privateers were difficult to punish. (5) Finding the person responsible was challenging, especially as many wealthy courtiers and officials were bribed and benefitted from the trading of these illegal goods. (5) As Queen Elizabeth I did not actively claim that the Privateers were acting on her orders she was not seen as an accomplice, but still benefitted from seizing ships and the stolen goods.
The abolition and downfall of Privateers
The public executions and displays condemning pirates by trial were introduced to reduce and prosecute the number of pirates in society. Many sailors and their families were aware of the punishments for piracy and illegal behaviour at sea and these punishments acted as a deterrent for many. Piracy trials were quick and lasted 2-3 days, resulting in many pirates unable to argue a defence for their prosecution. Some attempted to argue their case claiming their ship was captured and they were forced to join a pirate crew, some argued they were drunk, and some said nothing at all that confirmed their actions. (6) The punishment for piracy was death by hanging and on most occasions took place at Execution Dock by the River Thames in London, after a long procession from the prison. The gallows were built at the low tide mark of the Thames and drew a large crowd with many using boats to have a closer look at the action. After the execution, the pirate was left for three tides as the water washed over, covered in tar or hung in cages and then moved to an unmarked grave. Pamphlets were printed with the story of the trials, speeches and confession before a public hanging that created a sensation for the gruesome. The bodies were used as a warning to other pirates, and men who could turn to piracy, that they would have the same fate. The Piracy Act of 1698 allowed Admirals under the authority of the crown to conduct trials at sea and execute across the world without bringing these criminals to London specifically for trial.
Privateers commissioned during times of warfare were becoming less desirable during the nineteenth century. European powers signed the Declaration of Paris in 1856 abolishing the use of Privateers during wartime. The signing of this declaration (not signed by Spain, USA or Mexico) concerned specifically maritime law agreed that “Privateering should be abolished”, “a neutral flag should cover an enemy's goods with the exception of contraband of war” and these goods “should not be liable to capture under an enemy’s flag”. (7) This declaration put an end to the use of private ships during wartime and the seizing of enemy goods. However, this dramatically reduced the amount of vessels in operation under the British naval force and this concern was voiced during debates in the British Parliament. One Member of Parliament (MP) voiced that by signing the declaration meant, “inflicting on ourselves a mortal injury”, while other countries still operated attacks and seizing goods from enemy and foreign ships causing Britain a disadvantage. (7) On the other hand, the eradication of Privateering created neutrality for many European powers to trade without fear of attacks in wartime.
Conclusion
The life of a pirate has been dramatized and romanticized by popular culture resulting in an image of a life of adventure and plundering and not the reality of dangerous characters, which mercilessly attacked ship across the seas. Films and television, to an extent, rewrite history and glamorize the image of the pirate that blurs the lines between fact and fiction. Piracy, in reality, was not always a choice but survival and a way out of poverty and misery. Pirates do still exist and are not just figures of myth, but they are called Modern Pirates. These pirates are still in operation today, but because they do not interfere with the major powers like they once did, with reports of incidents in Somalia and China, piracy is usually less reported in Western media. As technology has improved and innovated, so have the tools from the historical cutlass and pistols to machine operated rifles and guns. Unlike those vessels captured during history, many modern ships are becoming aware of the tactics of modern piracy and protecting their ships with defensive measures and procedures to ensure safety of their crew and passengers. Life at sea is still one that is unpredictable and lawless to an extent, so it is easy to understand why piracy flourished throughout history.
What do you think of the ‘Golden Age’ of Piracy? Let us know below.
Now read Amy’s article on the history of medicine at sea here.
References
(1) S. Robertson, The Pirate’s Pocket-book (London, Conway, 2008), p.10.
(2) V. Barbour, “Privateers and Pirates of the West Indies.” The American Historical Review, vol. 16 (1911), pp. 529.
(3) RMG, ‘Letters of Marque’, 2023, Royal Museums Greenwich < https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/letters-marque >[accessed 18 Feb 2023].
(4) G. F. Dow and J.H. Edmonds, The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630 – 1730 (New York, Dover Publications, 1996),p.2.
(5) J. McDermott, ‘Sea Dogs’, 2009, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography <https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-98209 > [accessed 22 Feb 2023].
(6) RMG, ‘Bringing Pirates to Justice’, 2023, Royal Museums Greenwich < https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/bringing-pirates-justice >[accessed 21 Feb 2023].
(7) HL Deb 19 June 1871, vol 207, cols 199.
Bibliography
Barbour, V., “Privateers and Pirates of the West Indies.” The American Historical Review, vol. 16, no. 3, Apr., 1911, pp. 529-66.
Dow, G. F. and Edmonds, J.H., The Pirates of the New England Coast 1630 – 1730 (New York, Dover Publications, 1996).
HL Deb 19 June 1871, vol 207, cols 199.
McDermott. J. ‘Sea Dogs’, 2009, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography <https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-98209 >.
RMG. ‘Bringing Pirates to Justice’, 2023, Royal Museums Greenwich < https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/bringing-pirates-justice >.
RMG. ‘Letters of Marque’, 2023, Royal Museums Greenwich < https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/letters-marque >[accessed 18 Feb 2023].
Robertson, S., The Pirate’s Pocket-book (London, Conway, 2008).
